Wonder what’s in the works at 30th and Troost? This weekend’s Wanderfest provides the opportunity for a sneak peek at a long-awaited development in one of Kansas City’s in-progress revitalization corridors.
The Wonder Shops and Flats serves as a key stop during Sunday’s festivities, which showcase maker and creative work in the Tower East neighborhood. Wanderfest attendees can pick up an event guide, as well as schedule exclusive, early tours of the Wonder development from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Wonder’s Wanderfest booth. The event is planned for the area of 31st Street and Gillham Avenue.
Featuring about 10,000 square feet of commercial space, as well as 86 loft apartments and rooftop event space, Wonder Shops and Flats, 1108 E 30th St., is a cornerstone of efforts to revive the Troost corridor, long seen as a racial dividing line in Kansas City.
The $16 million development — set in a former Wonder Bread bakery — is expected to include Blip Roasters, Bike Walk KC corporate headquarters, B Cycle Station Troost, DeLeon Events, and Block Management, said Caleb Buland, the Kansas City half of the development duo behind the Wonder project.
“The commercial tenants are what’s going to make Troost strong. We’re going to do a good job of finding local residents who want to live in the building, but we want to find the commercial tenants who have that creative flair to make people want to drive over to Troost to spend some money as well,” Buland told Startland previously.
Wonder also will feature a pediatric and dental group that will specialize in helping the neighborhood with a new medical presence, Buland added, noting the name of the tenant has not yet been announced.
Developers are still pursuing a brewer and a spa provider to fill Wonder’s commercial space, he said.
Wonder’s loft apartments are available for pre-leasing and expected to open this summer.
The project sits catty-corner across the 30th and Troost intersection from Ruby Jean’s Kitchen and Juicery. Wonder’s development team, which also includes Colorado-based Ilan Salzberg, partnered with Ruby Jean’s founder Chris Goode on the location, as well as with Longfellow Farms for an organic garden behind the business.
